spice hunting
A photo project by Yana Volovich about how legal drugs are sold in Riga and who is preventing it.
From the author: “When I went to Riga, all I had was an idea, a camera and one contact. I wanted to access the city's subcultures, its dark places. I wandered through the green areas of this half-Soviet-half-European city, and what caught my eye was a clash of cultures, old and new.”
(Total 20 photos)
1. It turned out that one of the most pressing problems in Latvia is the problem of the legal drug spice, which they call “legal” or “legal” there.
Spice is a monstrous drug, a sprayable chemical mixture with a constantly changing formula, making it impossible to ban. Spice is called synthetic marijuana, although, unlike marijuana, it often leads to death or severe mental disorder. The main "consumers" of spice are teenagers aged 13-15.
2. Spice sales points are open 24 hours a day. Dealers practically live inside small shops. Points compete with each other, this often leads to disassembly.
Unlike Estonia and Lithuania, where spice is equated with hard drugs, in Latvia this drug (one of the most widespread and having a huge social impact) remains without attention of the authorities. Probably, a mixture of legislative complexities and good old Soviet corruption discourages the leadership of the city and the republic from participating in solving this problem. Therefore, "amateurs" have to enter the game.
3. The poster shows a photograph of an English teenager who is dying from spice abuse. The posters on the wall indicate that Stop Drugs has already been here.
Control over the distribution and use of spice is trying to be taken over by the volunteer movement Stop Drugs, which consists of individuals operating without any official support. To date, the movement has more than 1,000 members. Stop Drugs operate without contact with social services, rehab centers or law enforcement. The task that they set for themselves is to close all spice distribution points in Riga, acting within the framework of the law.
4. Spice is imported to Latvia in the form of an aerosol. After that, it is sprayed onto everything that is smoked - leaves, grass, etc. According to representatives of Stop Drugs, one cartridge is enough for 10,000 doses.
What is the Stop Drugs movement - the heroism of some people forced to manifest itself as a result of the inaction of others? Or is it an extreme sport, dangerous pastime for the young? Or maybe this is a confrontation between various youth groups? Or all together?
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7. Maskavas Street is a green area of Riga. Until Stop Drugs came along, this was a very busy place for dealers.
8. Spice lovers are regulars at pawnshops, pawning the last thing they have, or everything they could steal.
9. Spice sellers make transactions from behind iron doors with a small hole for transferring money and drugs. Points are located on large streets, in the middle of shops and cafes.
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11. According to representatives of Stop Drugs, spice samples are sent to schoolchildren by mail free of charge.
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14. Informants exist on both sides; the Stop Drugs raid was anticipated, all points were closed.
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16. Summing up, dinner, beer and TV. A documentary about the evening promotions of Stop Drugs.
17. Policemen take part in Stop Drugs actions in their free time.
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19. Former drug addicts share their bitter experience with schoolchildren.
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